Everyone knows how hard it can be to break an old habit. Even just trying to change a speaking mannerism can be frustrating, not to mention not leaning your elbows on the table (even being hit by your mother doesn't always help). It is so easy for some things to become a habit, and then so hard to break them. Therefore, if we can take something we want to be doing and turn it into a habit, how much easier would life be? Unfortunately, anyone who has made a New Year's Resolution knows that it doesn't seem to be that easy. So is there some secret way to form new habits?
According to some sources, it is just a matter of time. But how long? Some say 8 weeks, others only three, and still others any other number you would like to pull out from a hat. With so many different answers, there must be something more effecting the time it takes to form a habit. So what are some of these things?
The first important factor in how long it takes to form a habit is how difficult the habit it. Compare remembering to brush your teeth every day compared to going for a two-hour jog everyday. This just means that if you are trying to form a new habit that is a bit more difficult, you are much better off working in baby steps. Want to sit down and write your novel for 3 hours every day? Well, start by forming the habit of sitting down after dinner and writing for half an hour. Once you are pretty good with that, it's not such a big step to go from half an hour to an hour, then to two hours. You get the idea.
The second major influence in creating a habit is how often you actually perform the action. Just as it is harder to break a habit that you do all the time, it's easier to form a habit if you do it more often. This is particularly important at the beginning, and will decrease the time it takes to form the habit. So prepare to be as faithful as you can to set yourself up to succeed. Particularly at the beginning, try to do the habit everyday, even if you later plan to do it less often.
Third, the more your new habit clashes with older habits, the less likely it is to take. Obviously, the more major the clash, the great likelihood of failure. But don't despair, with a bit of planning and strategy, this can be used to your advantage. Take for example the fact that you want to start going to the gym every night. If you start by saying you are going to go at the same time you have always watched your favorite TV show, that might not last so long. However, if you say you can only watch your favorite TV show when you are at the gym, this has a larger chance of success. Moreover, if you can connect your new habit to an existing habit, you can shorten the time it takes to pick it up significantly. Always go out for a smoke at 11 am? How about adding in a walk around the block while you are already out there?
Keeping in mind these three factors will help you to maximize the effectiveness of your new habit. Spend a little time planning how to best implement it and within weeks you will be finding the habit harder and harder to break.
According to some sources, it is just a matter of time. But how long? Some say 8 weeks, others only three, and still others any other number you would like to pull out from a hat. With so many different answers, there must be something more effecting the time it takes to form a habit. So what are some of these things?
The first important factor in how long it takes to form a habit is how difficult the habit it. Compare remembering to brush your teeth every day compared to going for a two-hour jog everyday. This just means that if you are trying to form a new habit that is a bit more difficult, you are much better off working in baby steps. Want to sit down and write your novel for 3 hours every day? Well, start by forming the habit of sitting down after dinner and writing for half an hour. Once you are pretty good with that, it's not such a big step to go from half an hour to an hour, then to two hours. You get the idea.
The second major influence in creating a habit is how often you actually perform the action. Just as it is harder to break a habit that you do all the time, it's easier to form a habit if you do it more often. This is particularly important at the beginning, and will decrease the time it takes to form the habit. So prepare to be as faithful as you can to set yourself up to succeed. Particularly at the beginning, try to do the habit everyday, even if you later plan to do it less often.
Third, the more your new habit clashes with older habits, the less likely it is to take. Obviously, the more major the clash, the great likelihood of failure. But don't despair, with a bit of planning and strategy, this can be used to your advantage. Take for example the fact that you want to start going to the gym every night. If you start by saying you are going to go at the same time you have always watched your favorite TV show, that might not last so long. However, if you say you can only watch your favorite TV show when you are at the gym, this has a larger chance of success. Moreover, if you can connect your new habit to an existing habit, you can shorten the time it takes to pick it up significantly. Always go out for a smoke at 11 am? How about adding in a walk around the block while you are already out there?
Keeping in mind these three factors will help you to maximize the effectiveness of your new habit. Spend a little time planning how to best implement it and within weeks you will be finding the habit harder and harder to break.
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Want to find out more about great tips for motivation, then visit Elizabeth Greentree's site on tips and tricks for becoming a prolific writer.
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